Air Canada cuts service to some small communities early next year cp.org Friday, September 06, 2002 MONTREAL (CP) - Air Canada announced Friday it will discontinue air operations to some small communities in Atlantic Canada in January when a three-year commitment to keep serving those areas ends. Canada's dominant carrier announced that effective January 4, its regional Jazz division will stop flying to Yarmouth, N.S., St. Leonard, N.B. and Stephenville, Nfld. A week later, Jazz will no longer operate between Goose Bay-St.John's; Goose Bay-Deer Lake; Deer Lake- St.John's and Deer Lake-Wabush. Air Canada said, however, that service will continue to be provided to its network of 68 communities in Canada by the main airline, the regional carrier and commercial partners. Montreal-based Air Canada made a three-year commitment to the federal government to serve that affected communities when it took over longtime rival Canadian Airlines in late 1999 and early 2000. Air Canada agreed at the time to continue flying to communities that had been previously served by Air Canada, Canadian Airlines or their subsidiaries until Jan. 4, 2003. The commitment calmed fears that small communities would lose a vital transportation link to other parts of Canada. Some of the latest service cuts were confirmed Thursday, although industry observers said they expected more would be soon to follow. Friday's announced route cuts follow service realignments in Western Canada earlier this year when routes were transferred by Jazz to smaller local airlines. These communities include Comox, Campbell River and Dawson Creek in British Columbia and Lloydminster in Alberta. "Our commitment to continue service to small communities for three years was a significant undertaking, particularly in view of the difficult environment the airline industry has operated within for the past two years," Calin Rovinescu, Air Canada's executive vice-president of corporate development and strategy, said in a release. "Air Canada Jazz's short haul regional service has been negatively impacted by the economic downturn, increased industry-related charges such as security fees, airport user charges and fees and insurance rates. The situation has been compounded by regulations that have hindered our ability to be price competitive on certain routes. As a result, some services that were marginally viable are no longer sustainable for the airline and will be discontinued." Rovinescu said, however, that the airline is "open to working with communities and governments to assist in resolving the issue of air transportation to communities affected." The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ The Trinbago Site of the Week: (MBH) http://maracasbay.com/ (Maracas Bay Hotel) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************